Monroe High School student awarded prestigious NROTC scholarship

ALBANY – Classmates, JROTC peers, family and teachers gathered to celebrate Monroe Comprehensive High School senior Avenn Smith, who was surprised to receive the Marine Option Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps Scholarship, Thursday morning.

Smith was the only Georgia student to receive the $180,000 scholarship. He competed against applicants from more than 2,600 high schools across the southeastern U.S. to achieve the high honor. Smith will take this scholarship to attend Tuskegee University and train to become a U.S. Marine Corps Officer and aviator. 

Tuskegee University is in Macon County, Ala., and is known as the training ground for the U.S.’s first black military pilots. 

The Tuskegee Airmen formed the 332nd Fighter Group and the 477th Bombardment Group of the U.S. Army Air Corps and fought in World War II as the first African-American military aviators in the nation’s history.

Smith said it was his dream to attend the university.

“My goal was always to join the military, and I’ve always liked aviation and technology,” the scholarship winner said. “This scholarship will help me get to where I want to go … and encourage other students of color that they shouldn’t be scared to do what they want to do.” 

Smith had no idea upon entering the gymnasium at Monroe High School that he had received the scholarship. He was just thrilled to be accepted into his dream school. Joined by his family, who wore shirts with Smith’s face and Tuskegee University printed on it, the senior teared up and hugged his family as he found out what the celebration was really about. 

He was met with rousing support from his classmates and JROTC peers.

“A lot of this wasn’t just me,” Smith said. “It was a lot of people there who helped me get to where I’m at.”

He gave thanks to many people in his life, choking up at the mention of his late grandfather, for which his classmates and family began to sing “Let it Shine,” to support him through his speech. 

“I’ve got to thank my granddad,” Smith said. “He’s not here right now, but he helped me get to where I want to be, and he left me standing where I can do anything I want.”

Recruits from the U.S. Marine Corps were present for the celebration. 

Capt. William Hughes talked to the crowd about how big an accomplishment receiving the scholarship is, calling it very competitive and a very high honor. He said very few made it through the initial vetting process to even get an interview. 

“He (Smith) demonstrated not only academic excellence but also leadership potential, discipline and commitment to service that made him stand apart from the rest of his peers,” Hughes said. 

Hughes said becoming a Marine officer is no easy task but 100% worth the challenge. 

Monroe High School Principal Lawanna Farley-Johnson encouraged the class of 2025 to rise to the occasion as they near graduation in May.

“I made a promise to the class of 2025, if you do it big, we’re gonna do it big for you,” she said. “So whatever your accomplishments are, we’re gonna celebrate you in a grand way.”

She asked each student who’d received a college acceptance to stand and gave them a moment of celebration.

“We’re changing the narrative of 900 Lippitt Drive,” Farley-Johnson said. “Our children are intelligent and doing great things.”